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Roofing, siding, windows & gutters in Old Town Alexandria
In Old Town the state permit exemption barely matters, because design review governs. A Certificate of Appropriateness has to be in hand before a building permit application can even be filed.
- Reviewed by City of Alexandria — Code Administration and the Board of Architectural Review
- Free inspection with photos and a written report
- Fixed written price before work starts
Free estimate in Old Town Alexandria
Tell us the address and what is going on. We reply the same business day.
The housing here
What Old Town Alexandria stock means for your exterior
Old Town holds some of the oldest continuously occupied housing in the region — attached and semi-attached masonry, period detailing, and roof and window profiles that the Board of Architectural Review takes seriously.
Who reviews your address
A Certificate of Appropriateness is required for exterior alterations visible from a public right of way in the Old and Historic Alexandria and Parker-Gray districts, and must precede the building permit application. The city has been updating its historic design guidelines, so confirm current requirements for your address.
Local knowledge
What we watch for in Old Town Alexandria
Plan months, not days
Many replacements — doors, siding, roofing, windows — can be approved administratively by preservation staff, often within a few business days. Anything needing a full BAR hearing commonly runs four to eight weeks from submission, and two to four months end to end for a common exterior project is realistic. Start the review before you shop materials.
Visible from a public way is the test
Review turns on visibility from a public right of way, which is why a rear elevation is often treated differently from the street facade of the same house. Sightlines are not always what you assume — ask preservation staff rather than guessing.
The approvable product is not the catalogue-best product
Window profile, muntin pattern, siding exposure, and roof material are all reviewable. A vinyl unit that would pass without comment in Springfield may simply be refused on a King Street block. Budget for what will be approved.
Permits by trade
What needs a permit in Alexandria
Old Town Alexandria follows Alexandria rules. Local historic or municipal review can add a step on top — see the note above for your address.
| Trade | Status | What that means |
|---|---|---|
| Roofing | Usually exempt | Virginia USBC §108.2 exempts replacement of an unlimited amount of roof covering on a single-family home (Groups R-3, R-4, R-5) where the nominal design wind speed is 100 mph or less — which covers Northern Virginia. Structural deck work beyond the exemption, or any historic district, changes the answer. |
| Siding | Usually exempt | The same USBC exemption covers replacement of an unlimited amount of siding on a single-family home. Fairfax County states it plainly as "re-siding of building/home with similar material." Switching to a materially different cladding, or structural sheathing repair, can pull it back in. |
| Windows | Usually exempt | USBC §108.2 exempts replacement windows and doors "of similar operation and opening dimensions that do not require changes to the existing framed opening." Enlarging the opening, or a full-frame replacement that alters the rough opening, needs a permit. |
| Gutters | Usually exempt | Gutter and downspout replacement is routine maintenance. Fairfax County lists "gutters" outright as not requiring a permit. Where a downspout discharges can still be a stormwater or zoning question. |
Services
What we do in Old Town Alexandria
Roof Replacement & Repair
Architectural shingle, standing-seam metal, and flat/low-slope systems. Leak diagnosis, storm damage documentation, and full tear-off replacement.
Costs & details →Siding Replacement
James Hardie fiber cement, insulated vinyl, and cedar. We correct the wrap and flashing behind the siding, not just the panel you can see.
Costs & details →Window Replacement
Full-frame and insert replacement in vinyl, fiberglass, and clad wood. Correct sizing, correct flashing, no drafts at the sill.
Costs & details →Gutters & Downspouts
Seamless 5" and 6" aluminum, half-round copper, and guard systems — sized and pitched to actually move DMV storm volume away from the foundation.
Costs & details →We also work nearby
- Del Ray
- Parker-Gray
- Rosemont
- Founders Park
Get a real number for your Old Town Alexandria home
Free inspection, written scope, fixed price. Same-business-day reply.